Pastors Carlos and Miriam Peñaloza:
Founders and faithful servants of Ekklesia USA.Founder of Ekklesia USA
Carlos Peñaloza
In 1973, during the great revival in Bolivia, Pastor Carlos Peñaloza was called to ministry only months after his conversion. He studied at Portland Bible College in Oregon and received leadership training at the Haggai Institute in Singapore. He was ordained as the first pastor of Ekklesía in Bolivia and later served as President of the Christian Communications System and Vice President of the National Association of Evangelicals of Bolivia (ANDEB).
His missionary heart led him to serve in Colombia at Ekklesia Christian Center and to found the "Community of Love" (now Charismatic Mission to the World). His apostolic ministry allowed him to pastor churches in Chile, Argentina, the United States, Spain, Germany, and Peru, as well as establish missions in the Middle East and Honduras.
In the United States, he served as President of the Association of Hispanic Ministers of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area (AEMH) and President of COMHINA. An international speaker and author of the book "The Other Side of Victory," a vital resource for restoration and healing used across the continent, he was known as the "Job of the New Testament" because of his profound life testimony.
Pastor Carlos served as the founder and Senior Pastor of Ekklesia USA for 24 years. Alongside his wife and partner in ministry, our current Senior Pastor Miriam Peñaloza, he built a foundation of faith that continues to flourish. In October 2020, he entered into the presence of the Lord, leaving a legacy that Pastor Miriam continues to lead today.
Our Story
A Legacy of Revival
A Legacy of Revival The roots of our community reach back to 1971, when Julio Cesar Ruibal—then a medical student in the United States—encountered the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the ministry of Kathryn Kuhlman. Following a clear calling from God, he returned to his native Bolivia, becoming the catalyst for the greatest spiritual revival in the nation's history. This movement opened the doors of the Gospel to thousands of young people and led to the founding of Ekklesia Bolivia, where Pastor Carlos Peñaloza served faithfully for 22 years.
A New Chapter in America
In 1996, the Peñaloza family faced a pivotal moment. Due to the delicate health of their four children—Jose, Carla, Sara, and Daniela—Pastor Carlos and his family moved to the United States. It was here, in the humble setting of a Holiday Inn in Arlington, Virginia, that Ekklesia USA was born.
What began as a step of faith for a family’s health became a beacon of hope for a new community. Today, we continue to carry that same fire of revival and commitment to the "called-out" assembly that started decades ago.
Who we are
At Ekklesia USA, we believe the church isn’t a building—it’s the people. Our name comes from the Greek word ekklēsia, meaning "a called-out assembly." We strive to be a light in our city by staying rooted in the Word and active in our service.
Our Core Values
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We cultivate the presence of God in our Sunday gatherings and special events through exuberant praise and worship in the Spirit of David. We celebrate and welcome the active manifestation of the Holy Spirit in everything we do.
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We live under a covenant of love, expressed through our deep commitment and faithfulness to the Lord, to His Church, and to one another.
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We are a relevant, innovative, and contemporary church. We adapt to the demands of today’s reality while remaining rooted in our spiritual DNA—faithfully passing these values down to future generations and embracing our multicultural identity.
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Every step toward our vision is taken in faith. We believe firmly in God’s guidance and trust in His sovereignty and providence. We have seen God provide time and again; His hand is evident in all we do.
